63 replies to this topic

[Persona]

I haven't viewed either of these yet, but finally broke down and bought them both. I have the Sunrise DVD, it only cost me about $30 after being more than two times that amount a few months ago, so like i said, i broke down. I also have Faust on VHS. In the spirit of caring and sharing, if anyone would like to borrow either of these after i watch them this week, send me an email and let me know. (stef@stefloy.com)

-s.

[Peter T Chattaway]

stef wrote:
: I have the Sunrise DVD . . .

Is this the restored version of the film, which premiered at this year's Berlin festival and is coming to Vancouver's Cinematheque in December?

[Persona]

It's the one that was only made available if you bought like three other classic DVDs as a part of the Fox Studios Classics edition, and there was no other way to attain it. For a while it was selling for over $60 on ebay but prices have recently dropped. It looks great, i did put it in just to view the first 10 or 15 minutes, and at least it looks fully restored.

The ebay add where i bought it said:

"FEATURES: Original Movietone Score (Mono) , Alternate Olympic Chamber Orchestra Score (Stereo) , French Subtitles , Spanish Subtitles , Audio Commentary by ASC Cinematographer John Bailey , Outtakes With Commentary by John Bailey , Outtakes With Text Cards , Original Scenario by Carl Mayer With Annotations by Murnau , Theatrical Trailer , Still Gallery , "Sunrise" Sceenplay , Restoration Notes , Murnau's Lost Film "Four Devils" , "Four Devils" Treatment , "Four Devils" Sceenplay , ---- ----This is the real thing, it is a Region 1, NTSC US release. This is not a PAL, Bootleg, Asian, or anything of the sort, it is real."

-s.

[Peter T Chattaway]

stef wrote:
: It's the one that was only made available if you bought like three other
: classic DVDs as a part of the Fox Studios Classics edition . . .

Ah, right. Hmmm. I have one of those Fox DVDs (The Day the Earth Stood Still), and I am very tempted to get at least one of the others (All About Eve). I think The Song of Bernadette is also part of that series, yes? If so, that might be one to get, too. Hmmm. We consumers have until the end of January to take advantage of this offer. Will ponder this.

[mrmando]

I should be interested in seeing those Murnau films ... give a holler.

[Persona]

Russell gets first dibs. PM him your address.

-s.

[Persona]

Lots of thoughts after my late-night Halloween exploration of Faust. Don't know if anyone's seen it, but Russell and Mando are obviously going to, so i'll post some things to watch out for.

The film makes absolutely no sense in terms of the struggle in the heavens. After Mephisto and the angel make a wager that Faust will sell his soul for the right to change things on earth, Faust quickly realizes it's easier to blame God than to be God... He turns to folly, falls in love and is martyred with his love, Gretchen. For what, i'm not sure. I think it was because they were sexually active, but the film only shows them kissing. Then again, she shows up later with a baby so i guess they were doing more than that, but they had all their clothes on in the love scene so it must have been immaculate conception. The point that clearly stands out in the end, a point i just can't understand a person as smart as Murnau letting the film sink to, is that the wager is nullified because of the act of love. This made no sense in the context of the film, or if it did i missed it.

The effects in the first 20 minutes were awesome in an old-school kind of way. It's funny to think that a film from the 20s could have effects that stand out more clearly than, say, the Godzilla films of the 60s. I think it's because the effects here are more like a metaphor than an actual visual styling. They further the reality of what's happening in the heavens so well. The scene of Mephisto hovering over the little town would turn Frank Peretti on. It was wicked. Also, the actor who played the older version of Faust was so great looking, with his scraggly long beard blowing in the wind and smoke rising all around him.

There's a fascinating clip towards the end where Gretchen is trying to save her baby's life. In one scene she holds her baby up and begs for someone to take it out of the cold. It's great looking, but begs the question -- how did she and her baby end up in the winter cold homeless? In the scene right before this she was in her mother's house, kneeling at a chair her mother used to sit in.

I really liked Murnau's effects and the questions he seemed to be asking in the first half of the film. From what i've seen, he is clearly a better director than Lang, with greater stories and a superior lens for relaying them. There were some great spiritual quesitons filling up the screen, but the ending made no sense in terms of the Job-like wager in the heavens, and i'd be welcome to comments explaining this.

-s.

Edited by stef, 02 August 2004 - 11:38 PM.

[Persona]

Hey fellas, just take your time and enjoy.

I'm looking for more people to discuss Sunrise with, so after you check it out report back. Ash saw it and we spent the better portion of a night talking about all of its great qualities. We may have talked ourselves out. Regardless, it didn't stop me from buying a used book about it on Amazon.com last night. Asher and i are going to fave fun reading up on this one.

OH. And it's Kara to you, el wifebo to me.

-s.

[Peter T Chattaway]

Bizarre. I was planning on seeing this film at the Cinematheque tonight. Thanks for sparing me the task of looking for this thread, boys!

[Persona]

On the big screen with a newly restored print, this will no doubt be a great night for you, Peter. I'm jealous.

-s.

[Peter T Chattaway]

Russell Lucas wrote:
: No worries. I'll start a separate thread tomorrow to record my thoughts
: on the end of the film.

[Thom]

Quote

Bizarre. I was planning on seeing this film at the Cinematheque tonight. Thanks for sparing me the task of looking for this thread, boys!

That is ironic. I am with Stef on this one, it is going to be a great night. Sunrise on the big screen, I am a bit jealous.

Maybe I should start a thread on big screen jealousy

[Peter T Chattaway]

Beautiful film; a bit of a typical silent-era melodrama, which ain't my favorite genre, but memorable just the same. Creative use of titles; I like how the words sink off the screen when the mistress suggests that the man drown his wife; and note how the process is reversed at the end of the film when the word "Finis" rises up onto the screen. I love the shot where the mistress's face overlaps that of the man, tempting from multiple angles simultaneously. I had to laugh when the man and his wife come out of the church where ANOTHER couple has just gotten married; just imagine what the people outside are thinking. Fascinating matte shot when the couple stroll into the street, oblivious to the traffic around them, and the background suddenly turns to a nature shot around them, before the horns and yells from the passers-by bring them back to reality. (Were the music and sound effects for this film there from the beginning? I know that SOME films had music-and-effects tracks in the year or two leading up to The Jazz Singer, which came out in 1927, the same year that Sunrise did. There's one amusing scene in particular where the soundtrack makes use of that classical bit that I believe went on to become the theme song for Alfred Hitchcock's TV show.) The jealousy in the barbershop was priceless, and even though I could tell where the bit where the man pulls out his jack-knife was going, I still jumped when it went there. Speaking of which, the man is rather violent, dontchathink? I'm amazed that EITHER girl would want to go back to him.

[Persona]

Great stuff, Peter.

Yes, that was the part i most didn't understand. The man was a jerk, plain and simple, so why would either woman want him? If he went with the City Girl's plans and killed his wife, it would only prove him morally bankrupt, and if the wife knew she wanted to kill him, what possessed her to let his repentance touch her? He was a violent adulterer. In the words of Dr. Phil, "Just stay away."

But many women have taken in jerks over the years so it doesn't derail the story.

How about that boat-trip sequence? I will never forget that as long as i live.

And when i look at these old films, especially the ones made by Murnau, i am blown away at the crystal clear picture. The shots of the man in the marsh under moonlight in the arms of his mistress... Again, the boat-trip... the city lights... etc, combined with artistically tasteful superimposed shots (the most used special effect of the day)... It makes me want to find Faust on DVD (i've only seen the VHS).

I just received the BFI Film Classics book by Lucy Fischer in the mail today, and it looks like a quick read. I'll report back if there are any more astounding insights. Even a glance at it looks to bring out a few extra themes that we haven't touched on yet.

-s.

[Persona]